Partnerships between watch and car companies usually consist of a logo swap, some marked-up special edition timepieces and celebrity driver photo-ops. But when the International Watch Company Schaffhausen announced its partnership with the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One team, somehow we knew this would be different. Its Ingenieur line of timepieces is evidence that it is.

IWC is known for innovation, not only in its mechanical movements but also in its use of case materials. In the 1980s, it was the first watch company to successfully build cases from ceramic and titanium and they’ve been using both — as well as carbon fiber — ever since. This focus on high-tech materials, and the fact that IWC is the only major Swiss watch brand in the German-speaking region of Switzerland, is what make its new link with Mercedes AMG such a natural one.In 2013, IWC has refreshed its Ingenieur lineup of timepieces. Born in the 1950s as a highly anti-magnetic watch for scientists and engineers, the Ingenieur has always been IWC’s flagship, representing what the brand does best: engineering over mere style. The watches in the new lineup include everything from a self-winding steel watch ($6600) that is true to its heritage with an astounding 40,000 amperes per meter magnetic resistance, all the way up to a titanium aluminide-cased perpetual calendar with digital date display ($49,700). But perhaps its most impressive pieces are those that directly tie in with the Mercedes AMG Petronas partnership.

The carbon-fiber case of the Ingenieur Automatic Carbon Performance ($26,400) is made with the same principles used for monocoque race cars — carbon fiber matting is resin-soaked and baked under pressure — and held together with titanium screws with ceramic screw heads. The Ingenieur AMG Black Series Ceramic ($13,300) has a polished ceramic case inspired by the brakes discs found on the Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series. Finally, the Chronograph Silberpfeil ($13,100) features IWC’s in-house developed and built movement and a circular grained steel dial reminiscent of the gauges in the Silver Arrow Mercedes race cars of the 1950s.This isn't the first time IWC and Mercedes have paired up. Back in 2009, we reported on the 55-unit CLS55 AMG "IWC Ingenieur" as well as the SL63 AMG Edition IWC.

While IWC doesn’t have the motorsports pedigree of some other watch brands, its new Ingenieur line has perhaps the most authentic link to the technologies, materials and spirit of modern Formula One™ racing. Gentlemen, start your chronographs.More Info: IWC